Merry Christmas Card

We want to wish all of our friends, family, and loved ones a Merry Christmas.

Here are the top ten things that happened to the Killpacks in 2012.

10. McKay's two year break from school came to an end, when he decided it was time to further his schooling.  He got accepted into the University of Utah's and Electrical Engineering Master's program.  He took Stochastic Processes.  Whatever that means.  He passed and we're both very happy!

9. We finally finished remodeling our kitchen.  We painted our cabinets, installed a tiled backsplash, and new countertops and sink.  Next time we do a kitchen remodel, I will pay someone to do it.  We did a lot of painting, re-painting, fixed drywall, and put in new flooring in our upstairs bathroom.

8. Our roommate Kevin and his girlfriend Shelley got married!  We will miss being his foster parents, but are so happy for this next stage of his life.

7. We went on a couple vacations this year: Oregon Coast, California, and Capitol Reef National Park.

6. Courtney quit her job as the marketing specialist at Tanner Clinic.  She decided staying home and raising Amelia was more important.  Two weeks after signing her resignation papers she was offered a social media/marketing consulting job for the blog Six Sisters' Stuff.  Now she works part time from home and is loving working in the blogosphere.

5. McKay switched jobs at his work.  McKay was one of the lead test engineers at L3 Communications and now is an automated test engineer developer.  He is enjoying his new job. What makes daddy happy makes mommy happy.

4. McKay is currently a Elder's Quorom teacher and Courtney is an advisor in the Mia Maids.

3. Winston's favorite thing to do is play with his Kong frisbee, play catch at the nearby park, cuddle in bed with mommy and daddy, and lick Amelia, gross!

2.  and 1. defienetly belong to our sweet and beautiful Amelia.  She was born on August 16th and has brought so much immeasurable joy to our lives.  We can't imagine our lives without her.  She is just like her daddy; she looks like she is always thinking and observing.  She is a big talker, she got that from her mommy.  She looks like a lot like her daddy, but has her mommy's eyes and nose.  She's a good mix between the two of us.  

5 minute post

Oh my gosh, I haven 't posted anything for a month now!  It's getting late and I'm giving myself five minutes to write and be done so I can get to bed!  I've been really busy.  Let me keep you up to date on what's going on. I was planning on doing some projects that included revising my blog and making it more than just a journal. Then a great opportunity was presented to me and my blog has been put on the back burner for now.  I have a friend who has a really famous blog.  A couple weeks ago she texted me offering me a job doing their social media from home because her and her sisters are way too busy keeping up their blog, cookbook deal with Deseret Book, upcoming blog conference and their new website launching in January.  I was totally caught off guard by this and said yes without hesitation. I work part time from home and so far its been such a blessing.  When I quit my job I knew deep down inside of me I wanted to keep up my "career", but wasn't willing to put my child in daycare for it.  This way I can have that small "career," be a mom, and take care of my baby without leaving her side. With Amelia's schedule changing daily there's been a few days where the only work time I could squeeze in was when I was using the restroom.  Gross I know.  Life has been pretty busy with this new and exciting direction in my life.  I hope I can learn how to balance life, work, child, husband and the 1,000 things I want to accomplish, do, and be apart of.  If only women could do it all.  

I cut my hair to sport a new mommy look.  McKay tells me I look like a Russian Spy.

Amelia is getting so big. She will be four months old next week. The photo to the right was when she was a couple weeks old.  I'm a bad mother for trying to put her in the bumbo at that young, what was I thinking? 

I found these glasses while organizing all of my crap from my old job. We had fun with these.

Was invited to join a fabulous group called the Utah Creative Guild and went to their Christmas party. I was able to mingle with some beautiful, smart, and savvy women that night.

  

An old past time of mine.  I get to play this fun game once a month with some old pals.  

A new occupation

Last week I made a big decision I thought was going to be really easy to make.  Over the past three months I've been on maternity leave from my job and all of my life I knew I wanted to be a stay at home mom and raise my children, but when it came down to actually making that decision, I didn't realize how hard it was going to be.  

I've been taught to work hard, get an education, and make something of myself.  I've had a job every since I was 12.  All I knew in my life was working. Work was my sense of accomplishment in life.  I thought I had my mind made up about staying home but was nervous I would long for that sense of accomplishment I felt  at work.

For nine months I have been going back and forth on the idea of going back to work.  Some days I would think, "I've waited five and a half years to have a baby so I could stay home, why am I trying to justify not staying home?"  The next day I would think, "Am I going to feel satisfied enough as a person if I stay home?"

It wasn't until about two months ago I was reading through the dozens of blogs I faithfully read and follow when I came across a blog of an old co-worker of mine named Jenna.  Jenna is a self taught and very successful blog designer and a designer of beautiful things; she's also one of the girls behind this way cute children's blog called Small Fry.  She wrote on her blog that she was closing her shop so she could spend more time with her two little boys.  She went on to say that it was an extremely difficult decision and how life is about making brave decisions and making sacrifices.

What she wrote was exactly what I needed to hear.  I realized that I needed to make a brave choice and sometimes in life you gotta sacrifice for what's best. Seeing a very successful person give up her life work for her two children is remarkable and commendable.  I decided I want to be one of those brave women to put their work life on hold so they can rear and raise their most precious gift, they're children.  Jenna's decision gave me the courage to make that decision I knew deep down inside was the right one. To stay home with my beautiful Amelia, to raise, teach, love, and care for her.  It wasn't easy, but I knew for me it was the right decision.

I've learned a lot about myself in these past three months since Amelia's been born.  I've learned a lot about myself and especially my weaknesses. They've revealed themselves in the ten fold.  Through this little journey of mine I've realized the unknown scared me.  Not knowing how I would adjust to motherhood, staying home, nursing, and not working.

Last week I signed my resignation papers at my work and have felt tremendous peace.  I'm going to miss everyone I worked with, they were my second family.  This has been a very spiritual and self evaluating experience for me.  I've been blessed in so many ways since this decision.  My mind has been working in overdrive on ways I can use my skills and talents for the future.  I'm grateful because I might have not had these ideas of inspiration if I went back to work.  Sometimes working in the corporate world can leave you feeling like you have no sense of creativity or originality.

I've come to the conclusion that I want to pursue my passions in life.  I've been working on some small projects recently and look forward to sharing them with everyone.  Again, thanks to my friends and family  who've supported me 100% in this decision, especially my husband who I love dearly.  Amelia, I look forward to spending every day with you for the next 18 years.  
    

Amelia's Blessing

During Amelia's blessing on Sunday I recorded the blessing on my cell phone so I could remember what McKay said in it.  I played back the recording and couldn't hear a thing!  I was so upset!  Then today, my awesome neighbor told me he wrote down some of the things McKay said. What a sweet gesture!  I thanked him so much because McKay couldn't even remember what he said either.  Here are some of things McKay said:

-To have Amelia follow the example of her brother Jesus and be baptized

-To be healthy and strong

-Find a worthy companion who she will love dearly and be married in the temple

-Be able to influence people around her

-Gain a testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel

McKay pretty much summed up what every parent would want for their child.  

Love you McKay and Amelia.

-Fo

Blessing Day

 On Sunday we blessed Amelia Ann at church with all of our families and friends there.  The best feeling is having everyone you love and care about dearly all with you in the same place.  Taking pictures during church is really tacky, but I couldn't help myself. These pictures were right before McKay blessed her.  McKay did a great job, I would be a nervous mess.  

   
                                    Here's some pictures of friends and family at the luncheon.

No gathering would be complete for me without some matchmaking.  

Another key ingredient to having a successful luncheon is good food.  My good friend Alicia who is also in our ward blessed their baby a couple months ago and we went to their luncheon.  They had the most delicious sandwiches, I had like five of them.  I told Alicia I was going to steal her sandwich idea for our blessing luncheon. I don't know the name of the sandwich but its really easy, so savory, and you'll eat like ten of them.  I looked all over the internet to find a link to this delicious recipe but couldn't find one.  Alicia texted me the recipe, so I'll share it with you.  Here's a picture that's pretty close to what it looks like.

Hot Ham and Cream Cheese Sandwiches

-(2) 8 oz of cream cheese

-5 green onions 

-1 tsp dry mustard

-1 tbs water

-Dozen rolls

-Package of ham 

-Package of munster or havarti cheese

Preheat oven to 350.  Soften cream cheese to room temperature.  Fold in green onions.  Mix dry mustard with water.  Pour mustard mixture into cream cheese.  Set aside.  Slice roll, spread one tbs of cream cheese mixture on roll, place a slice of cheese and two slices of ham.  Roll up in tin foil and place in oven for 10-15 minutes until cheese and melted. Heaven in a tin foil.    

                         We took some pictures of us on our front porch while there was light outside

A note on motherhood

I've taken some time off from my blog.  I've done this on purpose so I could rest, recoup, and be a mommy to my sweet Amelia.  I have a humble amount of followers so I'm sure none of them noticed.  The funny and crazy thing is that I'm constantly busy taking care of Amelia, Winston, and myself, the house, being a mommy and wife and I feel like I don't get anything done at the same time.  I've learned over the past 10 weeks to lower my expectations of myself and my ability to manage life.  Before Amelia came into my life, I was so efficient and now I feel like I'm just getting by.  There's been some adjustments to motherhood, but most of them I've easily embraced.  I never thought eating a meal or using the restroom where there's not a screaming baby in my hands was a luxury.  Or having a four hours of sleep at a stretch could cause me to raise a hallelujah! But those times are overshadowed when I see little milestones everyday or when I see her laugh and smile at me. That's the great thing about having a baby as your boss, she doesn't know if you feel  inefficient. All she knows is that you feed her and  love her unconditionally.  

A proposal and visit to the zoo

Last weekend, McKay's work had its yearly work party where they closed down Hogle Zoo and invited all employees and their families.  This was my first visit to Hogle Zoo in about 15 years and it was our little outing with Amelia.  

  

We first attended the bird show and that was really fun.  Not only did we see lots of exotic birds, but McKay's close friend and our basement roommate, Kevin, proposed to his girlfriend Shelley.  A year ago from this time, Kevin and Shelley were set up on a blind date by McKay and I.  Their first date was last year's work party which was held at This Is The Place State Park. Kevin decided to use the bird show as a way to pop the question.  He had a bird bring her a note asking her to marry him.  We were assigned by Kevin to capture this joyous moment. 

From the pictures, you can tell she said yes. Congratulations Shelley and Kevin!

This giraffe was licking the wall; his tongue was so long we had to take a picture of it.

I love this little girl so much. The older she gets, the more she looks like her daddy.  We like to coordinate with each other.  

Newborn Pictures

Last week, Amelia got her newborn pictures taken from an old high school friend of mine named McKell Morgan Photography.  She did a great job and took the pictures at my house!  I didn't have to go anywhere.  Amelia did really well.  She was asleep for the first half and then decided to wake up and open her big eyes.  Amelia did have one little mess. When McKell was changing the background for one of her naked shots, I held Amelia in my lap and she pooped all over me, herself, and my peach colored chair.  This pooping incident was so forceful it felt like a volcano had erupted.  Oh the joys of being a mother.  I've come to the conclusion Amelia likes to have her mouth open a lot.  Here are some of my favorites:  

Amelia meets her greats

 Two weeks ago we took a trip down to Utah County so Amelia could meet both sets of her great-grandparents.  It was very sweet and I took a lot of pictures.  We started at Grandma and Grandpa Killpack's.    

Grandma Killpack told McKay and I Amelia is their 57th great-grandchild.  

Ever since Grandpa died two months ago Grandma's health hasn't been doing very well.  Grandma has really struggled with Grandpa's death, mostly because after spending 70 years with someone I can't imagine how much you would miss him.  For several weeks Grandma completely lost her appetite and had no desire to take care of herself anymore.  This is so uncharacteristic of Grandma and made everyone in the family worried for her health. My Dad told me for several years Grandma has told him that the one thing she wants to do before she dies is to hold a great-grand baby.  The weeks leading up to Amelia's birth all she could talk about is holding the baby.  I kept telling her if she was going to hold the baby she had to eat her meals so she could have enough strength to do so.  When the day came for us to visit Grandma in Mapleton, my little sister called me on the phone and wondered where we were because Grandma was getting very excited and impatient because she couldn't wait to hold Amelia.  When we got to the house she was almost in tears.  I brought the car seat over to her and lifted the cover and my Dad was able to capture this sweet moment of Grandma seeing Amelia for the first time.

    

For the next two hours Grandma talked to Amelia, held her tight, gave me a lot of advice, kissed her, and sang to her.  She wouldn't let anyone else hold her.   

I love Grandma's face in this picture.  I haven't seen Grandma this happy for a long time. It made me miss Grandpa a lot.